Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says the situation in the war-torn country has drastically improved with Wahhabi terrorist groups now retreating.

In an interview with India’s Wion TV, President al-Assad said that, “the situation on the ground, from a military point of view, is much better than before, but this is not the whole picture; as this is not only about military conflict, but is about different things including the ideology that the terrorists try to spread in our region, which is the most dangerous challenge that we may face in the near and long term.”

Assad pointed out that the situation has improved dramatically, because the terrorist groups, mainly ISIS and al-Nusra Front and like-minded groups in Syria who are Wahhabi terrorist extremist groups, are retreating, or areas under their control has been shrinking.

The Syrian president noted that, “the support that those terrorist groups have been gaining from regional countries like Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, and European and Western countries such as US, France, and UK mark a new era in the world where you can use terrorism, any kind of terrorism, to implement a political agenda. Assad blamed Qatar for starting the conflict in Syria under the supervision and the endorsement of the Western countries.”

ISIS not strong, survives on US support

On the timeline for the annihilation of ISIS, President Assad said ISIS is not very strong and it would take a few months to destroy the terror groups including Al Nusra Front. The Syrian president said the main problem is that ISIS has been supported by the US. He added that the US attacked Syria’s army that’s been fighting ISIS three times during the last six months and every time they attacked Syrian forces in a specific area, ISIS attacked our forces at the same time and took over that area. Assad pointed out that, defeating ISIS depends on how much foreign support ISIS will get.

Ending bloodshed in Syria

Referring to efforts aimed at ending bloodshed in Syria, President Assad pointed to the Geneva talks that commenced in 2014 adding that there is need for a methodical effort to produce fruitful results. He added that the Astana talks backed by Iran, Russia and Turkey have achieved partial results, through the recent de-escalation areas in Syria. He noted that a political solution in Syria will be reached when all the different aspects of the crisis are tackled concurrently.

On the recent so-called chemical attack or a chemical incident that took place at Khan Sheikhoun, President Assad reiterated that his government does not have chemical weapons adding that the incident was staged to be used as a pretext to attack Syria. He said, “a few days after the alleged chemical attack, the US attacked a Syrian airbase and in that way they supported terrorists, because ISIS launched an attack the same day of the American attacks on the airbase.”

On the issue of the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons, President Assad said the international community confirmed a few years ago that Syria is devoid of chemical weapons adding that even the then US Secretary of State John Kerry announced that Syria is free of any chemical weapons.

Saudi regime exports Wahhabi terrorism, extremism

Referring to the influx or influence of Wahhabism on across the world and the role of Saudi Arabia in the region, Assad underlined that Wahhabi extremism is part of the Al Saud clan ruling Saudi Arabia. He noted that the Saudi regime has exported terrorism and extremism or the Wahhabi ideology to the rest of the world. Assad added that many madrasas (religious school) in Asia, in Europe, every mosque, has been supported financially and ideologically through books and through every other means by the Wahhabi institution.

President Assad expressed hope that, through the popular support by Syrians, the country is now moving in the right direction adding that terrorists who were supported by the West and other countries are now facing defeat.